A well-composed Ed Harris
For actor Ed Harris, who stars in Agnieszka Holland's "Copying Beethoven," playing the irascible composer in his final years was freeing because "at that point in his life he didn't give a damn about what people thought." Plus, he said, "It was great having hair." Harris flew to Boston for a Sunday night screening at the Museum of Fine Arts of the fictionalized account of Beethoven's last years, and did a day of promotion for the movie, which opens Nov. 10. With the likes of Jackson Pollock and John Glenn and some 45 other film roles under his belt, what character is he looking forward to playing next? "Virgil Cole," Harris said, referring to one of the main characters in Cambridge author Robert B. Parker's "Appaloosa," which Harris is slated to direct and star in with Viggo Mortensen and Diane Lane. "I read it and I wanted to make it" into a film, he said yesterday while at the Bristol Lounge in the Four Seasons Hotel. And Harris, who is now appearing in the one-man Broadway show "Wrecks," was in town over the summer filming for Ben Affleck's directorial debut "Gone, Baby, Gone," which is due out next year. "I think he did a great job," said Harris. "I'm looking forward to seeing how it turned out."
More fun with the Farrellys
Bobby and Peter Farrelly may be headed back to the small screen. The filmmaking brothers who call New England home are partnering with "Friends" writer Wil Calhoun on a deal for NBC to adapt the popular BBC sitcom "I'm With Stupid." Peter Farrelly is signed on to direct the pilot. And Bobby will be an executive producer as will Calhoun, who also will write the half-hour comedy about a wheelchair-bound man who is befriended by a homeless guy who ends up moving into a group home for the disabled. The Farrellys, who are currently filming "Seven Day Itch" with Ben Stiller, have ventured into TVland before, including for the Fox pilot "Why Blitt?" . . . Those who saw "The Prestige" over the weekend are probably wondering why the No. 1 movie in the country gives a shout-out to the Museum of Science in the credits. No, Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, who play the movie's rival magicians, didn't shoot any scenes there. Last June, producers visited the MoS to record sounds from its Van de Graaff generator and Tesla coil.Some locals among top manly men
We've heard of "most sexy" and "most beautiful," but "most male"? AskMen.com has compiled a list of the Top 49 "ambassadors of male-kind" -- guys who've really got it going on -- and guess who's on it? In addition to George Clooney, who's No. 1, and runner-up Jay-Z, there are a few lads with local ties, including Arlington's own Dane Cook at No. 31, QB Tom Brady at No. 39, and Ben Affleck at No. 42. AskMen.com claims everyone on the list has those "prized male traits" of integrity, charisma, and intelligence. They forgot to mention a whole lot of money.Congrats to Chris Collins, who got engaged over the weekend to longtime girlfriend Georgia Wright, sister of Raiders running back Omar Easy. The NECN sports anchor lured the lovely lass to the rooftop of the InterContinental Boston, where he popped the question while a band played "Georgia." The couple then dined at Saraceno in the North End, the site of their first date. . . . Actor John O'Hurley's better half is pregnant with a boy, and the couple were given a Bosox hoodie at their weekend baby shower in Bel-Air. O'Hurley, a Boston-area native who attended Natick High, played J. Peterman on "Seinfeld," and next fall he'll host the new "Family Feud."
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